What are the advantages of pancreas transplant?

Diabetes can cause serious damage to many organ systems in the body. Damage to the nerves, eyes, blood vessels and kidneys appears to be caused by persistent and long-term elevation of the body's blood-glucose or blood-sugar, levels. Medical treatment of diabetes usually involves the injection of insulin to lower and control blood sugar levels, accompanied by frequent monitoring of blood sugar and dietary restrictions.

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Following a pancreas transplant, the new pancreas will monitor your blood sugar and secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, eliminating the need for you to constantly monitor your own blood sugar, and to inject insulin. As your body's blood sugar is regulated, there is a good chance many of the injuries caused by diabetes will gradually heal. However, more serious injuries may not improve.

If you have suffered kidney failure as a result of your diabetes, the transplant of a new kidney will eliminate the need for dialysis. Early evidence suggests that the transplant of a pancreas along with the kidney protects the transplanted kidney from the destructive effects of diabetes. Pancreas transplantation success rates now equate that of heart, liver and kidney transplantation.